Lepra is a member of the International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations (ILEP),[1] a federation of international non-governmental organisations committed to creating a world free of leprosy[2] and of The UK Coalition against Neglected Tropical Diseases,[3] a collaborative partnership between UK organisations actively engaged in the implementation and research of neglected tropical disease control.
[5][6] In 1923 Major General Sir Leonard Rogers, ex-Indian Medical Service, agreed to join Rev.
[7] Sir Leonard Rogers had been working on a treatment for leprosy based on chaulmoogra oil for several years and had recorded good results.
[8] On 12 July 1923, the British Empire Leprosy Relief Association (BELRA) was constituted at a meeting at the India Office, presided over by Viscount Chelmsford.
On 31 January 1924, the British Empire Leprosy Relief Association was officially founded by Rogers and Oldrieve, with the financial help of Sir Frank Carter, a Calcutta businessman and philanthropist.
Rogers believed, based on his experience, that it was important to treat leprosy in its earliest stages, and that the segregation system caused people to hide the illness for as long as possible.
In 1935 BELRA launched a Child Adoption Scheme as a method of raising funds for treatment of children who were patients of leprosy hospitals.
The site for the East African Leprosy Research Centre was chosen to be within the grounds of the Itesio Leprosarium in Kenya.
As a result of research, in 1975 LEPRA became one of the first associations to use multidrug therapy for treating leprosy, to increase effectiveness and minimise drug resistance.
In 1992 LEPRA funded research into a new surgical technique to restore sense of touch and temperature to damaged feet and hands, in cooperation with the Royal College of Surgeons in London and a leprosy centre in India.
[18] In 1996 LEPRA was chosen to be the partner charity for the BBC Children's Television programme Blue Peter in their 'Bring and Buy Sale' for leprosy.
[20][21] In 2011 A study from the Blue Peter Health Research Centre identified new biomarkers to detect TB early in HIV-positive people.
Frank Oldrieve, as Secretary of the Association, writes that the hope is "that leprosy workers in the British Empire will find these notes of service."
Its aim was to "meet the need for a quarterly periodical giving interesting and practical details to workers, especially to those who have made no attempt to specialise exclusively in the field of leprosy.
In addition to treating the diseases, Lepra also aims to enable people to improve their livelihoods and overcome disability, discrimination and prejudice.
Over the years Lepra has worked in multiple other countries, including Brazil, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Zanzibar.
In 2000, at the request of the government of Bangladesh, Lepra took over responsibility for leprosy control work in the Sirajganj and Pabna districts.
[28] In 1990 LEPRA began its BOLEP project in Sonepur, Odisha, India, which had the highest prevalence of leprosy in the world at the time.
Leprosy is treated by multi drug therapy (MDT), a combination of Dapsone and Rifampicin for six months in the case of low infection ("paucibillary").
It causes swelling of body parts and altering of the immune system.Although there is no cure for LF, Lepra implements a number of strategies to make the disease manageable for those affected.
These vans visit villages to educate people about maintaining good health and informing them about the symptoms of leprosy, LF and other prevalent diseases.
Lepra also trains traditional doctors to recognise the symptoms of leprosy and other neglected diseases so they can refer patients to government facilities when needed.
[33] People with leprosy or other diseases such as lymphatic filariasis often face stigma and prejudice from their communities, the government, or even their families.
[35] Lepra also provides support to people who face leprosy and other diseases in the form of counselling services at the Munger Referral Centre.
[36] Lepra is actively working with national and state networks of people affected by leprosy and disability across India and Bangladesh to fight legal discrimination.
Lepra organises self-care camps in local communities where people can learn how to care for their disabilities through cleaning and physiotherapy techniques that they can then do at home.
[41] When Lepra first sett up referral centres, people with leprosy were not allowed into hospitals or did not receive proper treatment due to stigma and doctors not specialising in the disease.
[42] Now, Lepra's referral centres provide services in areas where health facilities are lacking or unable to manage neglected diseases like leprosy or LF, and the disabilities they can cause.
[43] Recent research has focused on active case finding, disability aids, diagnostic tools and the mental health needs of those affected by leprosy.
King George VI became the first of the Royal family to sponsor children through their adoption scheme at the time, and Queen Elizabeth II became Patron of the British Empire Leprosy Relief Association (BELRA) in 1952 following his death.